Today in History

Sunday, May 19, 2002

Associated Press

Published Sunday, May 19, 2002

Today is Sunday, May 19, the 139th day of 2002. There are 226 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On May 19, 1962, Democrats staged a fund-raiser in New York's Madison Square Garden that was billed as a birthday salute to President Kennedy, during which actress Marilyn Monroe performed a sultry rendition of "Happy Birthday to You" for the guest of honor.

On this date:

In 1536, Anne Boleyn, the second wife of England's King Henry VIII, was beheaded after being convicted of adultery.

In 1643, delegates from four New England colonies met in Boston to form a confederation.

In 1906, the Federated Boys' Clubs, forerunner of the Boys' Clubs of America, were organized.

In 1921, Congress passed the Emergency Quota Act, which established national quotas for immigrants.

In 1935, T.E. Lawrence, also known as "Lawrence of Arabia," died in England from injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash.

In 1943, in an address to the U.S. Congress, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill pledged his country's full support in the war against Japan.

In 1958, the United States and Canada formally established the North American Air Defense Command.

In 1964, the State Department disclosed that 40 hidden microphones had been found in the U.S. embassy in Moscow.

In 1967, the Soviet Union ratified a treaty with the United States and Britain banning nuclear weapons from outer space.

In 1994, former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis died in New York at age 64.

Ten years ago: The 27th Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibits Congress from giving itself mid-term pay raises, went into effect. Vice President Dan Quayle criticized the CBS sitcom "Murphy Brown" for having its title character decide to bear a child out of wedlock. In Massapequa, N.Y., Mary Jo Buttafuoco was shot and seriously wounded by her husband Joey's teen-age lover, Amy Fisher.

Five years ago: NBC sportscaster Marv Albert was charged in an indictment with assaulting a woman in an Arlington, Va., hotel room and forcing her to perform oral sex. (Albert denied the charges, but at trial, ended up pleading guilty to assault and battery.)

One year ago: The Arab League called on Arab governments to sever political contacts with Israel until the Jewish state ended military action against Palestinians. "Point Given" won the Preakness as Derby winner "Monarchos" finished out of the money.